Afghanistan’s cricketing sensation Rashid Khan has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first cricketer to take T20 700 wickets. This historic feat occurred during Afghanistan’s group-stage match against the United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on February 16, 2026.
Rashid, leading the Afghanistan team, secured this achievement in the 16th over of the first innings by dismissing Muhammad Arfan through a hit-wicket. Arfan failed to score, falling to Rashid’s strategic bowling while attempting a reverse sweep.
At 27, Rashid Khan stands far ahead of his peers in the T20 format. Retired West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo holds the second position with 631 wickets, while Sunil Narine, still active, follows with 613 wickets. Rashid also leads in T20 Internationals with 191 wickets, surpassing retired New Zealand seamer Tim Southee’s 164.
Afghanistan, aiming to chase down a target of 161 runs, is fighting to stay in the competition for the Super 8 stage. Azmatullah Omarzai emerged as a key bowler, taking four wickets for 15 runs, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman contributed with two wickets.
With Afghanistan set to face Canada next in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, the team remains focused on securing a spot in the tournament’s next phase.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 17th, 2026
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